Unit dose device

ABSTRACT

A base extends between a back and a front. The base is connected to the back at a first fold and to the front at a second fold. A support, having a hole, extends substantially between the back and the front. The support is connected to the front at a third fold. A top is pivotally connected to the back at a fourth fold. The top is movable to cover the support. Means are provided for fixing the support to the back between the first and fourth folds. Means are also provided for removably securing the top in a position overlying the support and spaced apart therefrom.

United States Patent Spiegel [451 Sept. 19, 1972 UNIT DOSE DEVICE 3,114,474 12/1963 Davis ..229/28 R X [72] Inventor: Harold B. Spiegel, Clearwater, Fla. P QR APPLIC [73] Assigm "mam, 1,1s9,s77 4/1970 Great Britain ..229/29 F [22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1970 Primary Examiner.loseph R. Leclair [21] Appl' 102392 Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Related US. Application Data Attorney-Bierman and Biennan and Jordan B. Bier- [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 886,147, Dec.

18, 1969, abandoned. [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..229/29 F, 206/56 AB, 206/65 R A base extends between a back and a front. The base [S 1] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/48 is connected to the back at a first fold and to the front [58] Field of Search ..229/29 R, 29 F, 28 R; t a ond fold. A support, having a hole, extends 206/45- l4, 45419, 65 R substantially between the back and the front. The support is connected to the front at a third fold. A top is. [56] Referenegs cued pivotally connected to the back at a fourth fold.'The

N ED T T ATE top is movable to cover the support. Means are pro- U IT S A ES P NTS vided for fixing the support to the back between the Steger R first fourth folds. Means are also provided for Kleln n. ..206/D1G. removably ecuring the top in a position overlying the 2,57 1 Bergstell'l R upport and spaced apart therefrom 3,005,584 10/1961 Coe ..206/45.l4 X 3,401,865 9/ 1968 l-lolstrom..-.......,...206/45.l4 X 16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures UNIT DOSE DEVICE This application is a continuation-in-part application of copending application, Ser. No. 886,147, filed Dec. 18, 1969; now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a unit dose of, for example, a medicament or a food item. More particularly, the invention relates to a disposable container adapted to receive said unit dose and to a divisible unit comprised of a plurality of said disposable containers.

Today there is an increasing awareness on the part of the consumer and members of the health professions of the usefulness of unit dose dispensing. This type of dispensing has been widely used for the dispensing of unit doses of medicines and foods. Unit dose dispensing permits the sanitary, antiseptic and accurate premeasurement of the dosed item. Moreover, its convenience has led to its widespread consumer acceptance.

Unit dose dispensing is, however, expensive. A significant part of this expense is attributable to the high cost of the package assembly. Generally, unit dose packages consist of a number of component parts. Their assembly often requires expensive hand operations. Obviously, the ideal unit dose package should be comprised of just one component part. Moreover, it should be readily fabricated and assembled entirely by machine operation.

The present invention seeks to provide such an ideal unit dose device.

The device of the present invention is comprised of only one component part. Its assembly can be completely automated. Further, the top portion of the device overlays the tops of the individual unit doses or the immediate container holding each individual unit dose, thereby protecting them from dust and other contaminants during shipment and storage. Still further, the device of the present invention advantageously facilitates shipment of odd-size individual unit doses and individual containers holding said individual doses.

The device of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 prior to its assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1

taken along the line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view, partially broken away, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the two units upon separation;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the embodiment of FIG. 5 prior to its assembly; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 5 taken along the line 7-7.

With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the device of the present invention comprises a base 1, a back 2 which is substantially perpendicular to and pivotally connected to the base 1, a top 3 which is pivotally connected to the back 2 and movable to overlay base 1, a flap 4 which has a tongue 5 and is pivotally connected to top 3, a front 6 pivotally connected to base 1, a support 7 having a hole 8 and a slot 9, and a rear panel 10 which is pivotally connected to support 7 and fixed to back 2.

As is obvious from FIG. 2, the device of the present invention can be readily prepared from, for example, a paperboard blank; the hole 8, the tongue 5; and the slot 9 each being produced with the aid of, for example, a punch device. Concurrently with the production of hole 8, tongue 5 and slot 9, folds ll, l2, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are each produced by, for example, a standard boxmaking apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1 a number of the devices of the present invention can be connected in series, each of the devices being in juxtaposition with relation to each other and fixed one to another. I

Referring to FIG. 1, a first device 17 is connected to a second device 18 along a common border 19. Border 19 is preferably formed by a series of spaced perforations in the board material of which both devices 17 and 18 are comprised.

Border 19 is designed so that the first device 17 and the second device 18 can readily be separated along said border when sufficient force is applied thereto to break the bonds between the two devices along said border.

Border 19 can be readily mechanically produced, as indicated above, concurrently with the production of hole 8, slot 9 and tongue 5.

Once folds ll, 12, '13, 14, 15 and 16 have been made, the device of the present invention may be readily assembled as follows: Front 6 is bent at fold 14 so that it stands in substantially perpendicular relationship to base 1. Support 7 is bent at fold 15 so that said support 7 overlays base 1. Rear panel 10 is bent along fold 16 so that rear panel 10 is substantially parallel with relation to front 6. Back 2 is bent along fold 13 so that back 2 is substantially perpendicular with respect to base 1. Top 3 is bent along fold 12 so that top 3 overlays support 7 and base 1. Flap 4 is bent along fold 11 so that flap 4 extends downwardly from top 3. Tongue 5 and slot 9 are in alignment. Top 3 is pivotable along fold 12 so that top 3 is movable toward support 7 to removably insert tongue 5 into slot 9 thereby locking the device as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is obvious that hole 8 can be individually tailoredto the individual unit dose or individual container containing said individual unit dose intended to be held therein. As shown in FIG. 3, support 7 can be adapted to support a standard cup-like container 20.

The assembly of the device of FIG. 1 is completed by fixing back 2 to rear panel 10. This can be readily accomplished with the aid of an adhesive agent. The adhesive can be applied to either the surface of back 2 or rear panel 10, which surfaces are destined to be in contact and in faced relationship upon assembly of the device. The application of the adhesive can, of course, be automated.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 7, hole 8 can be substantially round as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 5 or substantially square as in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 7. As stated heretofore, hole 8 can be individually tailored to the individual unit dose or individual container containing said individual unit dose intended to be held therein.

As an alternative to the tongue and slot method of fixing flap 4 to front 6, flap 4 can be adhesively fixed with respect to front 6, as shown in FIG. 5, at a tearable adhesive point or points 21. In order to provide added support for the unit dose or unit dose container carried in hole 8, a front support member 22 and a rear support member 23 are provided. Support members 22 and 23 are in spaced relationship with respect to one another. The area defined between them serves as a well in which the unit dose container is seated. The support members 22 and 23 bear against the seated unit dose container 20 providing added support thereto.

The rear support member 23 may be substantially L" shaped and is comprised of a vertical leg 24 and a horizontal leg 25. Leg 24 is pivotally attached at its upper end to support 7 at fold 33. Leg 25 is pivotally attached to leg 24 at fold 34. Leg 24 is downwardly movable to form the vertical portion of the L-shaped rear support member 23. Leg 25 is upwardly movable to form the horizontal portion of the L-shaped rear support member 23.

Preferably, leg 25 has an extension 26 fixed to it. Legs 24 and 25 and extension 26 form together a substantially T-shaped element, as shown in FIG. 5. The substantially T-shaped support member is preferred as it offers greater stability over an L-shaped support member.

As is more clearly shown in FIG. 7, support member 22 is L" shaped and is comprised of a horizontal leg portion 27 and a vertical leg portion 28. Leg portions 27 and 28 are pivotally fixed to one another at a fold 35. Leg portion 27 is pivotally fixed at its other end to front 6 at fold 36. Leg portion 28 is pivotally fixed at its other end to base 1 at fold 37.

As shown in FIG. 6, support member 23 preferably normally constitutes a cut out part of support 7 and is pivotally fixed to support 7 at fold 33. It is also removably fixed to support 7 at tearable point or points 30. When pressure is exerted downwardly upon support 23, tearable point or points 30 are torn and support 23 will pivot downwardly toward back 2. Since leg 25 is pivotally affixed to leg 24, when leg 25 contacts base 1 it will assume a horizontal position with leg 24 extending downwardly from top 7 to base 1, and leg 25 extending horizontally in contact with base 1. Preferably leg 25 extends toward front 6 forming with leg 24 a substantially L-shaped member, the horizontal leg of the L resting on base 1. The area of top 7 left vacant by removal of support member 23 thereafter defines a hole 8.

In its preferred T shape, support member 23 is moved into position in the same manner as previously described for the L-shaped embodiment. As shown'in FIG. 6, leg 24 of support member 23 has a substantially U-shaped cut 31 therethrough. Again, when downward pressure is exerted on support member 23, points 30 tear. Leg 24 pivots downwardly toward back 2 and leg 25 pivots to assume a position in which it extends in contact with base 1 toward the front 6. The portion of support member 23 bounded by U-shaped cut 31 defines extension 26. As leg 24 pivots to assume a vertical position, extension 26 extends horizontally through the U-shaped opening in leg 24 in which extension 26 was previously positioned. Extension 26 and legs 24 and 25 constitute together the substantially T-shaped support member 23 of FIG. 5. Front support 22 is defined on two sides by substantially V-shaped cuts 32.

The apices of V-shaped cuts 32 face outwardly and away from one another. Leg portion 27 is normally unitary with front 6. Leg portion 28 is normally unitary with base 1. Prior to assembling the device, as shown in FIG. 6, the apices of V-shaped cuts 32 and fold 35 each fall on a line with fold 14.

Referring once again to FIG. 6, support 22 is conveniently formed as follows: While front 6 and base 1 lie in the same plane, inward pressure is exerted perpendicular to the plane of fold 14. Legs 27 and 28 will be forced away from the plane of front 6 and base 1. Since legs 27 and 28 are pivotally connected at fold 35, support member 22 will be V-shaped when front 6 is moved to a position substantially perpendicular with respect to base 1. Legs 27 and 28 will pivot to a position in which they will lie in planes that are substantially perpendicular with respect to one another. When flap 4 is adhesively fixed to front 26 at adhesive points 21. As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the space 38 in front 6 and base 1 previously occupied respectively by legs 27 and 28 will serve as a convenient access in which a finger, for example, can be inserted to reach behind flap 4 and move flap 4 upwardly and outwardly away from front 6 thereby breaking the adhesive bond at 21 and opening the device.

It is obvious that the device of the present invention can be made of materials other than paperboard. For example, flexible plastics or flexible sheet metal can be employed. An epoxy resin or solder can be used to fix back 2 to rear panel 10 when sheet metal is employed.

What is claimed is:

l. A device comprising a back, a front, a base extending therebetween and connected to the back at a first fold and to the front at a second fold, a support extending substantially between the back and the front and connected to the front at a third fold, the support having a hole adapted for removable insertion of a container, a top pivotally connected to the back at a fourth fold, the top being movable to cover the support, means for fixing the support to the back between the first fold and the fourth fold, means for removably securing the top in a position overlying the support and spaced apart therefrom, means for limiting horizontal movement of the lower portion of the container when the container is within the hole, said means for limiting is a first brace and a second brace, said braces being positioned on said base in spaced apart relationship, the hole together with said braces defining a well in which said container is removably seatable, said first brace is a first arm and a second arm, the first arm extending between the support and the base and fixed at one of its ends to the support and at its other end to the second arm, the second arm extending along said base and in contact with said base, and said second brace is a third arm and a fourth arm, the third arm being fixed at one of its ends to the front and at its other end to an end of the fourth arm, the fourth arm being fixed at its other end to the base.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for fixing is a rear panel connected to the support at a fifth fold, said rear panel being fixed to the back.

3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said rear panel is adhesively fixed to the back.

4. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing is a flap having a tongue, the flap being connected to the top at a sixth fold and a slot adjacent the third fold adapted to receive the tongue.

5. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold and the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold.

6. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold,

the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold and the rearpanel is pivotally connected to the support at the fifth fold.

7. The device as described in claim 4 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold, the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold ant the flap is pivotally connected to the top at the sixth fold.

8. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the device is unitary.

9. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing is a point of tearable adhesive joining the top and the front.

10. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said first brace is unitary with and constitutes a removable portion of said support, said hole being formed upon removal of said removable portion and said second brace is unitary with and constitutes a removable portion of said front and said base.

11. The device as described in claim further including an extension on said second arm extending along and in contact with said base and in a direction opposite to that of said second arm.

12. The device as described in claim 1 1 wherein said extension normally constitutes a portion of said first arm, the first arm when positioned substantially perpendicular with respect to the second arm causing the extension to move downwardly from the first arm to leave a second hole in said first am said second hole representing the area of said portion of said first arm, said extension extending through said second hole whereby said first brace is substantially T-shaped.

13. The device as described in claim 10 wherein said third arm is a removable portion of said front and said fourth arm is a removable portion of the base, the third and fourth arms are pivotally fixed with respect to one another at a fifth fold which prior to assembly of the device lies in the same plane with the third fold, the

third arm is pivotally fixed with respect to the front and the fourth arm is pivotally fixed to the base whereby when rearwardly directed force is exerted upon said fifth fold the third arm will move to a position substantially parallel to the base and the fourth arm will move to a position substantially perpendicular with respect to the base, the portion of said front and the portion of said base left vacant by removal of said third and fourth arm constituting a third hole, the top and the front being fixed with respect to one another by a point of tearable adhesive, said point of tearable adhesive and said third hole constituting said means for removably securing, said third hole serving as an accessway through which force can be applied to the top to tear said tearable adhesive.

14. A device comprising a back, a front, a base extending therebetween and connected to the back at a first fold and to the front at a second fold, a rear panel, a support extending between the rear panel and the front and connected to the front at a third fold and to the rear panel at a fifth fold, the support having a hole, a top pivotally connected to the back at a fourth fold, the top being movable to cover the support, a flap having a tongue, the flap being connected to the top at a sixth fold, a slot adjacent the third fold adapted to receive the tongue and removably secure the top, and means for fixing the rear panel to the back, means for limiting horizontal movement of the lower portion of the container when the container is within the hole, said means for limiting is a first brace and a second brace, said braces being positioned on said base in spaced apart relationship, the hole together with said braces defining a well in which said container is removably seatable, said first brace is a first arm and a second arm, the first arm extending between the support and the base and fixed at one of its ends to the support and at its other end to the second arm, the second arm extending along said base and in contact with said base, and said second brace is a third arm and a fourth arm, the third arm being fixed at one of its ends to the front and at its other end to an end of the fourth arm, the fourth arm being fixed at its other end to the base.

15. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold, the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold, the rear panel is pivotally connected to the support at the fifth fold, and the flap is pivotally connected to the top at the sixth fold.

16. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the device is unitary.

P0-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N' 3e692-2Z8 ii Dted September 19 1979 Inventor(s) HAROLD B- SIEGEL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown belowz The name of the inventor is HAROLD B.- SIEGEL Signed and sealed this 30th day of January l973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A device comprising a back, a front, a base extending therebetween and connected to the back at a first fold and to the front at a second fold, a support extending substantially between the back and the front and connected to the front at a third fold, the support having a hole adapted for removable insertion of a container, a top pivotally connected to the back at a fourth fold, the top being movable to cover the support, means for fixing the support to the back between the first fold and the fourth fold, means for removably securing the top in a position overlying the support and spaced apart therefrom, means for limiting horizontal movement of the lower portion of the container when the container is within the hole, said means for limiting is a first brace and a second brace, said braces being positioned on said base in spaced apart relationship, the hole together with said braces defining a well in which said container is removably seatable, said first brace is a first arm and a second arm, the first arm extending between the support and the base and fixed at one of its ends to the support and at its other end to the second arm, the second arm extending along said base and in contact with said base, and said second brace is a third arm and a fourth arm, the third arm being fixed at one of its ends to the front and at its other end to an end of the fourth arm, the fourth arm being fixed at its other end to the base.
 2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for fixing is a rear panel connected to the support at a fifth fold, said rear panel being fixed to the back.
 3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein said rear panel is adhesively fixed to the back.
 4. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing is a flap having a tongue, the flap being connected to the top at a sixth fold and a slot adjacent the third fold adapted to receive the tongue.
 5. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold and the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold.
 6. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold, the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold and the rear panel is pivotally connected to the support at the fifth fold.
 7. The device as described in claim 4 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold, the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold ant the flap is pivotally connected to the top at the sixth fold.
 8. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the device is unitary.
 9. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing is a point of tearable adhesive joining the top and the front.
 10. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said first brace is unitary with and constitutes a removable portion of said support, said hole being formed upon removal of said removable portion and said second brace is unitary wIth and constitutes a removable portion of said front and said base.
 11. The device as described in claim 10 further including an extension on said second arm extending along and in contact with said base and in a direction opposite to that of said second arm.
 12. The device as described in claim 11 wherein said extension normally constitutes a portion of said first arm, the first arm when positioned substantially perpendicular with respect to the second arm causing the extension to move downwardly from the first arm to leave a second hole in said first arm said second hole representing the area of said portion of said first arm, said extension extending through said second hole whereby said first brace is substantially T-shaped.
 13. The device as described in claim 10 wherein said third arm is a removable portion of said front and said fourth arm is a removable portion of the base, the third and fourth arms are pivotally fixed with respect to one another at a fifth fold which prior to assembly of the device lies in the same plane with the third fold, the third arm is pivotally fixed with respect to the front and the fourth arm is pivotally fixed to the base whereby when rearwardly directed force is exerted upon said fifth fold the third arm will move to a position substantially parallel to the base and the fourth arm will move to a position substantially perpendicular with respect to the base, the portion of said front and the portion of said base left vacant by removal of said third and fourth arm constituting a third hole, the top and the front being fixed with respect to one another by a point of tearable adhesive, said point of tearable adhesive and said third hole constituting said means for removably securing, said third hole serving as an accessway through which force can be applied to the top to tear said tearable adhesive.
 14. A device comprising a back, a front, a base extending therebetween and connected to the back at a first fold and to the front at a second fold, a rear panel, a support extending between the rear panel and the front and connected to the front at a third fold and to the rear panel at a fifth fold, the support having a hole, a top pivotally connected to the back at a fourth fold, the top being movable to cover the support, a flap having a tongue, the flap being connected to the top at a sixth fold, a slot adjacent the third fold adapted to receive the tongue and removably secure the top, and means for fixing the rear panel to the back, means for limiting horizontal movement of the lower portion of the container when the container is within the hole, said means for limiting is a first brace and a second brace, said braces being positioned on said base in spaced apart relationship, the hole together with said braces defining a well in which said container is removably seatable, said first brace is a first arm and a second arm, the first arm extending between the support and the base and fixed at one of its ends to the support and at its other end to the second arm, the second arm extending along said base and in contact with said base, and said second brace is a third arm and a fourth arm, the third arm being fixed at one of its ends to the front and at its other end to an end of the fourth arm, the fourth arm being fixed at its other end to the base.
 15. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the back is pivotally connected to the base at the first fold, the front is pivotally connected to the base at the second fold and pivotally connected to the support at the third fold, the rear panel is pivotally connected to the support at the fifth fold, and the flap is pivotally connected to the top at the sixth fold.
 16. The device as described in claim 14 wherein the device is unitary. 